Short stop in Auckland, and then Back home.

 We took the very orderly bus from Hamilton to Auckland after having one last group get together at the bus station. Goodbye to our hosts Sue and Richard. One note is that every bus or train conductor loves to give a running commentary on the sound system of what we are passing. It really livens up the ride, but also if you are in conversation, a mild irritation. We pulled in the Sky Terminal and much to our pleasant, it was less than two blocks from our hotel.  

 

  The Hotel was really nice. It was Indonesian and had very interesting amenities, like a very good restaurant  And three space heaters in the king-sized bed room. Our window looked out to a 15 story apartment building that looked like a dormitory with single rooms all with glass walls. It was bee hive of activity after dark. It must have been a peeping Tom’s dream.

Auckland holds about one half of New Zealand’s population, and much of it is Asian or Islanders. It has a 75 story space needle that housed a very big Casino, movies, theater, and the bus station. It can be seen all over the city, even though the city is full of modern, tall very creative buildings.  The waterfront is a totally functional high end wharf; tall ship, pleasure crafts, ferries, and tour boats. Queen street is busting, but just up the hill is W-street  where one might fine the shadier side of life.  In New Zealand prostitution is legal, and liquor stores are open 24 hours a day.  But the style in more polite areas seem so orderly British. The city council’s hot topic was if they should permit a 15 story brothel in an historic building on Queen Street. The council concluded that they must allow it as there is now law against it. 

Zosia and I went on the hunt for a Merlo and possum sweater for Christmas present. The Possum was introduced about 100 years ago from Australia and has been a very successful invasive species, killing off the birds and reptiles indigenous to New Zealand. They have a bounty on killing them. But I have to saw their fur is dear. The sweaters were hard to find and appropriately expensive.

So we traveled to city by public transportation – lost much of the time, but people were very friendly telling us where we were and where we were going. 

We went to the Auckland Museum and finally saw the Maori dance performers (we like the one on the boat where the mate gave his rendition much better).  But for exhibits, the best was in the Art Gallery, a traveling American show called – Who Shot Rock and Roll . 

 It showed seven large rooms of R&R stars photos over the years with stories on many.

So now it to the airport and to Los Angeles. The plane, food and drink was equally satisfying as the trip over. Customs was smooth in LA, and we had opted to stay at a hotel near the airport rather than phus for 9 more hours to get home. Yahoo – a six pack of beer, McDonald’s Hamburgers and salads, lying on the bed watching movies, flipping channels, excellent WiFI – Back in the USA.